European champions Spain got their World Cup campaign back on track as two David Villa goals gave them a comfortable victory over Honduras in Johannesburg.
European champions Spain got their World Cup campaign back on track as two David Villa goals gave them a comfortable 2-0 victory over Honduras in Johannesburg.
Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque made two changes, with Fernando Torres and Jesus Navas starting in place of Andres Iniesta and David Silva, while Honduras made four changes from the side beaten by Chile.
The reigning European champions made a fast start, with Torres miskicking when free 12 yards from goal inside the first five minutes.
ght: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">Soon afterwards, Villa almost broke the deadlock, striking a long-range right-foot shot which cannoned back off the crossbar with keeper Noel Valladares well beaten.
Spain's dominance paid off with 17 minutes played as Villa drove past two defenders on the left, cut inside another and fired a right-foot shot past the outstretched arm of Valladares and into the far corner of the net.
Just past the half-hour mark Torres passed up two chances to extend the lead, first heading wide of the far post after being found unmarked by a ball in from the right from Sergio Ramos.
Torres then shot high over the crossbar after racing past a couple of defenders and having just Valladares to beat.
Spain continued to hold the upper hand up to the half-time whistle, without creating any further clear openings.
Six minutes into the second half Spain and Villa made it 2-0. Xavi and Navas carved open the Honduras defence and the striker's shot from 20 yards was deflected past the hapless Valladares.
Villa passed up the chance to complete his hat-trick on the hour mark, after Navas was brought down in the area by Emilio Izaguirre. He sent Valladares the wrong way, but his spot-kick was also inches wide of the post.
Cesc Fabregas almost scored within seconds of coming on as a substitute, beating the offside trap to round the keeper, before Osman Chavez got back to clear the ball off the line.
Spain continued to dominate to remainder of the game, with Villa having one more chance to seal a treble, running on to Navas' cross but being denied by a superb challenge from Sergio Mendoza.
Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque made two changes, with Fernando Torres and Jesus Navas starting in place of Andres Iniesta and David Silva, while Honduras made four changes from the side beaten by Chile.
The reigning European champions made a fast start, with Torres miskicking when free 12 yards from goal inside the first five minutes.Soon afterwards, Villa almost broke the deadlock, striking a long-range right-foot shot which cannoned back off the crossbar with keeper Noel Valladares well beaten.
Spain's dominance paid off with 17 minutes played as Villa drove past two defenders on the left, cut inside another and fired a right-foot shot past the outstretched arm of Valladares and into the far corner of the net.
Just past the half-hour mark Torres passed up two chances to extend the lead, first heading wide of the far post after being found unmarked by a ball in from the right from Sergio Ramos.
Torres shot high over the crossbar after racing past a couple of defenders and having just Valladares to beat.Spain continued to hold the upper hand up to the half-time whistle, without creating any further clear openings.
Six minutes into the second half Spain and Villa made it 2-0. Xavi and Navas carved open the Honduras defence and the striker's shot from 20 yards was deflected past the hapless Valladares.
Villa passed up the chance to complete his hat-trick on the hour mark, after Navas was brought down in the area by Emilio Izaguirre.
He sent Valladares the wrong way, but his spot-kick was also inches wide of the post.Cesc Fabregas almost scored within seconds of coming on as a substitute, beating the offside trap to round the keeper, before Osman Chavez got back to clear the ball off the line.
Spain continued to dominate to remainder of the game, with Villa having one more chance to seal a treble, running on to Navas' cross but being denied by a superb challenge from Sergio Mendoza.
